Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers of coach Mike McCarthy have equaled the franchise's winning streak of coach Vince Lombardi that was set almost 50 years ago.

By defeating the St. Louis Rams, 24-3, Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Packers extended their streak to 12 games, counting playoffs. It ties the club mark set in 1961-'62.

"It'll be one of those things that you look back on and you say, 'Man, we did something special,' " said linebacker Desmond Bishop. "But right now, we're just in the moment."

The Packers' current streak includes the last two regular-season games and four postseason games in 2010 and the first six games this year.

In 1961-'62, the Packers won their final regular-season and the NFL Championship Game in 1961, and the first 10 games in '62.

"When you think about Lombardi it's almost like the face of football," cornerback Tramon Williams said. "If you can match what he's doing, you're doing a good job whatever you're doing. Hopefully, we can continue getting better and win a championship like Lombardi did."

Back then, the Packers were at their pinnacle under Lombardi. They averaged 167.9 yards rushing in 1961 only to top it with 175.7 in '62.

After allowing 223 points in 1961, the Packers allowed merely 148 in the 14 games of '62.

Many of the current players seem well-versed on the five NFL championships in seven years that the franchise claimed from 1961-'67.

"First time I walked in it's in your face," said tight end Tom Crabtree. "It's all around you. There's no escaping it, and I think it's a good thing. It kind of puts you in that mind-set of being a winner and part of that tradition."

In their 12-game streak, those Lombardi teams outscored their opponents, 370-91. Just one opponent scored more than 13 points. The Packers recorded four shutouts and, in four other games, allowed foes just a touchdown or less.

The modern-day Packers actually have scored three more points, 373. Nonetheless, they've allowed more than twice as many with a yield of 210.

Thus, the point differential of plus-279 compared to plus-163 indicates just how overwhelming the Packers were in the early Lombardi years.

"Lombardi's really the epitome of the game of football," Bishop said. "Tough. Traditional. Just a legend.

"It's what you're fighting for. Every day, every practice, every game, every play. We're fighting for him. For his trophy."

Cornerback Charles Woodson said there wasn't much sense talking about winning streaks unless the Packers can conclude a second straight season with another Lombardi Trophy in tow because those Lombardi clubs won back-to-back titles.

"We still have to win it," he said. "Lombardi won it, so it means everything to those teams. For us, we're scratching the surface."

The 12-game streak was snapped on Thanksgiving Day 1962 at Briggs Stadium when the Lions sacked Bart Starr almost 10 times in a 26-14 victory. Then the Packers won four in a row, including a 16-7 victory over the Giants in the title game.

Williams said the present Packers would like to start a dynasty such as that established by Lombardi's teams. Bishop said the Packers intend to win more than two straight Super Bowls.

"We know we have a lot of talent and a lot of good, high-character guys," tackle Marshall Newhouse said. "We just want to stay within ourselves and do what we do. I feel like you get yourself in trouble trying to compare yourself to someone else.

"We have respect for them and what they did. We kind of want to leave our own mark."

The Packers had an 11-game streak in 1928-'29, a 10-game streak in 1929-'30 and four streaks of nine games, most recently in 1996-'97.

With so many books, movies and plays having been produced on Lombardi's life, the players appeared to have considerable knowledge of his accomplishments.

"I feel like I've been watching NFL Films since I was 5 or 6," said Newhouse. "I've seen the HBO special on Lombardi. Just fascinating stuff. Every time it's how great of a leader he was and what kind of a football mind he was."

The NFL record for most consecutive victories in the regular season is 23, set by the Indianapolis Colts in 2008-'09. New England follows with 21 in 2006-'08 and 18 in 2003-'04.

"A team with as much history and tradition as this organization, any time you're able to match something those guys did back in the '60s when they were so dominant, I think it says a lot about our team," said Crabtree.

Next Sunday, the Packers will attempt to extend their streak to 13 and break the record by beating the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome.

About Bob McGinn

Bob McGinn is a beat writer and columnist covering the Green Bay Packers. A six-time Wisconsin state sportswriter of the year, he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award in 2011 for long and distinguished reporting on pro football.